Brendan: A Scrooged Christmas by Jennifer Domenico

Author:Jennifer Domenico [Domenico, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven: Brendan

What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m confronting her about who visits her? What right do I have? Even if that guy is interested in her, I have no right to care. But I do. I fucking care. I run my fingers through my hair as I slowly exhale. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the way I did when I saw her arms around him. I didn’t even think I was capable of emotions like that, but jealousy seized me like a vice. What am I supposed to do now? I can’t pursue her. We’re polar opposites. If it didn’t work out, it would be awful living right next door. Could she even like me after how rude I’ve been? I don’t think hanging a few strings of lights is enough redemption. Still, she seems warm. She could like me. I can always hope.

~~~

This is it. I’m doing it. I knock on her door, waiting for her to open it. I’m just going to say it. I’m going to tell her that I find her attractive, and I want to take her out. When the door opens, I step back.

“Hey, man, can I help you?”

I blink rapidly. “Uh, is Harper here?”

“Yeah, she’s here.” He turns and calls her name.

“Who is it, Eric?” She peers around him wearing nothing but a sheet wrapped around her. I see the fire roaring in the background, the champagne glasses, her dress strewn on the floor. “Hey, Brendan. What’s up?”

“Um, nothing. I just came…”

She smiles. “What?”

“Are you with him?”

She nods. “I couldn’t wait for you forever.” She steps closer. “I tried to get your attention, but you weren’t ready. I had to move on.”

“Move on?”

"You understand. A woman like me isn't going to wait around."

Eric puts his arm around her shoulder. “You took too long, man. Now she’s mine.” He leans down and kisses her in front of me. I step back, feeling a searing pain in my chest.

“I thought I had more time.”

Harper looks at me. “We always think we do.”

I sit up straight, breathing hard. Fuck. It was a dream. It wasn’t real. She’s not with him. Not yet. I can’t let that happen. I have to try. It might be a disaster, but I have to tell her. I have to.

~~~

Hours later, after a restless night, I grab my phone and dial my assistant.

“Morning, Brendan.”

“Hey, Michelle. I’m not going to be in today.” She’s silent. “Michelle?”

“You’re calling out?”

“Yes. I know it’s unusual, but—”

“Unusual? It’s unheard of. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

"No, I'm fine. Just something important came up, and I really need to handle it today. Everything's fine, and I'll be back tomorrow. If you could clear my calendar, I'd appreciate it."

“Sure. Of course. No problem.”

“Thanks. Have a good day.”

“Uh, yeah, you too.”

“I hope to." I hang up and throw on a pair of jeans and a sweater. In the two years Michelle has worked for me, I've never not come to work. I work the longest hours of anyone.

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